LONDON (Reuters) – British train drivers’ unions announced two new strike days on Friday, which will coincide with the ruling Conservative Party’s annual conference.
British passengers have faced severe disruption to their travels since last year as transport workers seek better pay to overcome a cost of living crisis driven by high inflation.
ASLEF said drivers would strike on September 30 and October 4, and overtime would be banned across the network between September 29 and October 6.
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents Britain’s train operators, said the union had rejected a “fair and affordable offer” without putting it to its members.
“We are calling on ASLEF management and executive to recognize the very real financial challenge the industry is facing,” the RDG said in a statement.
This new industrial action will coincide with the annual conference organized by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives in Manchester, in the north of England, from October 1 to 4.
(Reporting by Farouq Suleiman; writing Sarah Young; Mariana Abreu)
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